Ventricular encephalitis associated with leukaemic lymphosarcoma in a bovine calfEncephalite ventriculaire liee au lymphosarcome leucemique chez un veau

A female Ayrshire calf aged three months was referred to the clinic with a history of generalized lymph node enlargement and failure to thrive. Physical examination revealed enlargement of all peripheral lymph nodes and haemonodes. A lymph node biopsy showed many immature lymphocytes in various phases of mitosis. Examination of a blood sample revealed normocytic normochromic anaemia, with many immature and abnormally shaped red blood cells. Although leukocyte count was within the normal range, lymphocytes were the majority (94%), with neutrophils constituting only 6%. Other leukocytes were absent. There were many immature and abnormal lymphocytes, similarly, there were immature and abnormal neutrophils. As a result, a clinical diagnosis of leukaemic lymphosarcoma was made. The calf died two weeks after admission. Postmortem examination revealed emaciation, enlargement of all lymph nodes, with involvement of the haemonodes, liver, kidneys and bone marrow. Microscopically, there were lymphocytic infiltrations in the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, abomasum, leptomeninges of the brain and in the subependymal areas of the ventricular system. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 54(2) 2006: 100-10

A Case of Trichoepithelioma in a Cow

A six year old Friesian cow from the Faculty farm was referred to the University of Nairobi’s Large Animal Clinic with an ulcerated and infected mass below the left ear. On its dorsal aspect was a smaller mass measuring 2 cm. in diameter. The growth was surgically excised, the tissues fixed in 10 % formalin and submitted for histopathological characterization. The histopathological findings of increased number of hair follicles and increased numbers of keratinized cells were consistent with a trichoepithelioma. The cow was subsequently euthanized due to regrowth of the tumor and sent for postmortem examination. This report describes the clinical, necropsy and histopathological characteristics of this rare type of tumor in cattle